Lakers vs Bulls Prediction, Odds & Game Preview 3/22/2025

The Los Angeles Lakers look to maintain their grip on the Western Conference's third seed as they welcome a surging Chicago Bulls team that has won six of their last eight games and is fighting for playoff position in the East.

While the Lakers' potential return of LeBron James and Rui Hachimura could swing momentum, the Bulls' recent inspired play behind Nikola Vucevic's double-double averages and Coby White's 19.8 points per game makes this matchup more intriguing than the standings suggest.

The home team Lakers (43-26) face off against the visiting Bulls (30-40) in what promises to be a compelling Saturday night clash at the Crypto.com Arena.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls preview

The Lakers are looking to maintain their grip on the Western Conference's third seed as they host a surging Bulls squad at Crypto.com Arena in what promises to be an intriguing cross-conference clash.

Chicago's been turning heads lately, winning six of their last eight games behind Nikola Vucevic's dominant presence in the paint and Coby White's explosive scoring - though they'll need every bit of that momentum against a Lakers team that's been nearly unbeatable at home.

LeBron James's potential return from injury could be a game-changer for LA, who've been a .500 team over their last ten games without their full roster, but they've still managed to maintain their defensive identity, holding opponents to just 111.5 points per game.

The Bulls' recent hot streak has been fueled by their improved shooting - they're knocking down 36.4% from beyond the arc - but they'll face a tough test against a Lakers defense that's been particularly stingy at Crypto.com Arena.

Luka Doncic has been carrying the offensive load for the Lakers, fresh off a 31-point performance against Denver, while the Bulls counter with Vucevic, who dropped an efficient 24 points in their last outing.

The injury report looms large over this matchup, with both teams potentially missing key pieces - the Bulls will be without Ayo Dosunmu and Lonzo Ball, while the Lakers are monitoring the status of James, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent.

This matchup features an interesting contrast in styles: the Lakers' third-ranked free-throw generation against the Bulls' league-best defense in limiting opponent field goal attempts.

With Chicago fighting for play-in tournament positioning and the Lakers looking to solidify their playoff spot, expect an intense battle that could come down to fourth-quarter execution - though that's been a surprising weak spot for LA this season, ranking 28th in fourth-quarter win percentage.